shinya yamanaka proved cells can be changed into immature stem cells which can then be used to form all the tissues of the body. >> the nobel society has today decided to award the nobel prize in physiology or medicine 2012 jointly to john b.gergen and shinya yamanaka. >> he is 50 years old. he's a professor at kyoto university. he established the method to produce ips cells. they're capable of becoming specialized cells which can then be used to create tissues such as heart muscle. he succeeded by introducing four types of genes to cells removed from parts of the body. he reported success with mice in 2006 and a year later generated human ips cells. john gergen was the first to hiypothesize that genomes would -- 40 years wlaert yamanaka confirmed and expapded on his thesis. creating and reproducing diseased cells in the lab. members of the nobel committee says their work has made an important contribution to new medical research. professor yamanaka spoke about his nobel prize win at kyoto university. >> translator: i am very happy about receiving this prize. but at the same time i feel